Device for tightening the bands of elliptical springs



(No Model.) 7

W. W. BRUCE.

DEVICE FOR TIGHTENING THE BANDS 0F ELLIPTICAL SPRINGS.

Patented Nov. 28, 1882,.

WITNESSES: INVBNTOR: law W M BY MM 0* x9 flflyww/ ATTORNEYS.

NITED STATES ATENT F F ICE.

DEVICE FOR TlGHTENlNG THE BANDS OFELLIPTICAL SPRINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 268,179, dated November28, 1882. Application filed May 29, 18 82. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that -I, WILLIAM WALLACE BRUCE,of Western Port, in the county of Alleghany and State of Maryland, haveinvented anew and useful Improvement in Spring-Band Tighteners, of whichthe following is afull, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to means for securing a tight fit of the bands onelliptical and other springs for railroad-cars and other purposes, andhas for its object the doing of such work in a more rapid and efiectivemanner than is accomplished by any of the ordinary known means ormethods heretofore in use.

My invention consists in a box in two parts or dies, constructed toreceive the spring in between them, and having the opening for suchpurpose arranged obliquely to the closing line or plane of motion of thedies, whereby the pressure put upon the band on being tightened is equalon all sides and instantaneous. r

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specification, in

which similar letters of reference indicate cor-.

responding parts in both the figures.

Figure 1 represents a side view of a springband-tightening deviceconstructed in accordance with my invention, and Fig. 2 atransindependent dies, which may be changed to suit different sized orshaped springs; but,as observed, said box parts may be made to form thedies themselves. Such box parts are or may be directed to open and closeone upon the other by a guiding fit of the top'box part, B, within thelower box part, A, and by guidepins dd, arranged either within or on theout side of the lower box part, A, and passing through guide-holes inthe upper box part, B, with coiled springs e (2, arranged around saidguide-pins for raising the upper box part, B, to admit of the insertionof the springs to be banded. The springs e c and guide-pins d 0?,however, may be omitted, and the box parts or upper and lower dies whichsaid box parts virtually fornnand which will here accordingly bedesignated as "dies," may be carried directly by the devices used tohold and work them. Thus the device may be worked under any suitablekind of a hammer, operated either by steam or hand power direct or b\belt; or it may be worked by a screw or hydraulic press, and the one diebe brought down upon the other either by a blow or by continuouspressure; but I prefer the blow of a hammer, as it is quicker. Whenworked by a hand-hammer the lower die orbox part, A, may have apositioning projectiomf, on its base for entry within ahole in theanv11,and be provided with a strap, g, having set-screws h for bindingit on or against the sides of the anvil.

The opening on m in the box parts or dies A B, within which the springis inserted while tightening the band,and which is here shown as adaptedfor elliptical springs, having the upper and lower pressing-surfacesconcave and convex to conform to the shape of such springs, as shown inFig. 2, is made to occupy an oblique or diagonal relation on its sidesrelatively t0 the closing line or plane of motion of the dies. By thisoblique disposition of the shaping or pressing surfaces or the dies asformed by the hole m m the pressure put upon the hands when beingtightened is equal on all sides and instantaneous, and the work oftightening the bands on a series of springs maybe done as fast as thesprings can be put in and taken out.

Having thus fully described my invention, what 1 claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination, with the die A, having a socket on each side, and thedie B, having a correspimdingly-placed hole on each side, of the guidepoints cl and springs e, as and for the purpose specified.

\VM. WALLACE BRUCE.

Witnesses:

O. H. BRUCE,

J. A. KALBAUGH.

